The Ministry of Agriculture said the fall is due to lower expected agricultural commodity prices and smaller 2008-09 grain crops. The government calculated the revenues decrease by assessing a batch of 20 products.

The ministry also said that agricultural revenues should reach BRL164.6 billion this year, up 15.9 percent from 2007.

Brazil is the world's No. 1 producer of sugar, coffee, orange juice, chicken as well as the world's No.2 producer of soy.